The Beauty Of A Blank Page

Happy (almost) New Year, folks!

Just one more day to go and we're off and running into 2026.

Don't you just love flipping the page on a brand new calendar?


A clean slate, a fresh start, so many possibilities and ways to fill those little numbered boxes.

How exciting.

Like many of you, during this week between Christmas and New Year's Day, I find myself contemplating exactly what I'd like the next few months to look like.

In the past, I made resolutions, picked words for the year, words for just the month, finally abandoning the entire planning process altogether, opting to wing my way through the days instead.


And that's kind of where I am right now.

However.

That's not completely practical.

There needs to be some kind of structure, at least around here.

Of course, I haven't really decided exactly what that will look like. In 2023 I started sharing on the weekends, a little chat where I wrapped up the previous month's activities and outlined plans for the upcoming weeks.

My favorite part of that series was that so many of you shared what you were up to in the comments. That interaction is the best part of blogging for me.

Unfortunately, sometime around July of this year, I stopped doing that. I don't know why, I think I was just blogging less.


But I'd like to start it up again...right now.

I've already recounted the most popular posts of 2025, but this year was about so much more.

In the spring and summer months, my husband and I spent our weekends shopping for a boat. We had a lovely cruiser when the kids were small, but sold it when the pool went in.


We thought now might be the time for another. Apparently we were very wrong. We were looking for something very specific and what we ran across was either used garbage - you wouldn't believe what people tried to sell - or brand new.

Either way, both options were way over what we wanted to spend for a weekend getabout. We did have fun on those test rides, though and in the end we joked that maybe shopping for a boat was all we really needed.

We walked A LOT.

We played a ton of games, too.


We thrifted and visited new shops, near and far. There were long car rides full of conversation and impromptu stops.

Like the time we drove by The Big Duck and it was actually open!! I've passed that duck almost every summer for decades, but was never able to get inside.

Trust me, it was a big deal.

We vacationed at the ocean, my favorite place in the world, in early fall and it was still warm.

It was a getaway planned for two...with a room just big enough for two... but when the kids and their boyfriends decided to visit us there, it quickly because a jam packed room for 6.


And one of the most fun, laughter filled trips we've had in years.

October found us browsing at book stores, attending a musical Halloween party with friends, popping into street fairs...one featuring a performance by my incredibly talented daughter...and taking advantage of the unusually warm weather at our beach.

In November, we took a 7 hour ride to Maine to visit family. I drove, but it was an easy ride filled with ferry rides, uncrowded highways and good company.

Again, it was a family filled few days, where we celebrated an early Thanksgiving of sorts.

We sat around the table reminiscing, laughing until we cried, eating my mom's squash pie and toasting my day on what would've been his 100th birthday.

Back home, I hosted a Friendsgiving with my nearest and dearest, before the actual day. 

I recently shared my December doings, but all in all, it went by too quickly to craft much. Something I hope to make up for in the new year. Perhaps by completing one Christmas craft each month.

There's no rule that says Christmas crafts must be done at Christmastime. And if there is, well, we all know how I feel about those silly rules.

Breaking The Rules

As far as what else I'd like to accomplish this year? 

Hmm, I suppose they'll be more of the same on the list. I enjoy thrifting too much to give it up, even though my house is bursting with stuff now.

There will obviously be more decorating and DIYs. That's my zen. In fact, husband is actually sanding something for me, as I type.


A shop owner recently asked me if I'd like to rent a shelf to sell some of my treasures. I won't have to work or volunteer there, but it is far. Intead, I was considering listing items on Poshmark rather than donating them like I normally do...that could be interesting.

Plus, I don't have to leave the house for that one...but shipping is a pain. So I have to weigh my options.

Lastly, I'm thinking of making a bucket list for winter, the way my friend Joanne does. It's something I used to do with the kids, on summer vacation.

I've never done one on my own though and it seems like a great way to keep track of the activities I really want to do and then get organized to do them.


So with a little more than one day left in the year, I think that's where I'll start.

Wish me luck!

And I wish you a very happy, healthy, fabulously fun filled new year!

🥳

Do you have any 2025 highlights you'd like to share?

I'm all ears...

Happy New Year!!